FAIRMONT — Brookings literally towered over Fairmont via 6-foot-3 Johanna Miller and 6-5 Ainsley Shelsta during Saturday’s girls basketball clash, but ironically, the smallest player on the court delivered five consecutive points in the final minute and a half to seal a 47-39 non-league victory at Cardinal Gym.

Allie Clark, the Bobcats’ 5-3 point guard, generated all of her points during a 36-second span to double the South Dakota-based lineup’s lead to 10 with only 58 ticks to go in regulation.

“I thought that sequence really put the game out of reach,” said Fairmont head coach Sara Junkermeier.

Trailing 41-36 on the heels of power forward Bryn Miller’s two free throws, the hometown Cardinals fouled Clark to send her to the line. Clark sank the front end of the two-shot foul before rebounding her own miss and hitting a runner for an unconventional 3-point play and a 44-36 lead with 1:30 remaining. Clark later connected on two more charity tosses to extend the lead to 46-36 at the 58-second juncture.

“Fairmont’s guards really applied a lot of defensive pressure to her (Clark), but she fought through it and was able to finally get our offense going after our (team’s) slow start,” said Brookings head coach Mitch McLagan. “Johanna carried us most of the game, and then Allie hit some big free throws for us down the stretch.”

Johanna Miller — a basketball commit to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., next season — and Shelsta worked the low post to help the Bobcats build an initial 6-0 lead before Bryn Miller’s putback basket ended the Cardinals’ offensive drought 7 minutes into the first half.

“We started the game looking a little tired from playing the night before, but I really liked the energy the girls brought midway through the second half,” said Junkermeier.

Down 33-26 after Landree Wilson’s traditional 3-point play for the Bobcats, the backcourt of Madysen Allen and Faith Olson triggered an 8-2 run to inch the Cardinals within one at 35-34 with 7:30 left in the game.

Cadence Becker, who neared double-double territory by grabbing 11 rebounds to complement eight points, distributed one of her three assists to Allen for a cutter in traffic to trigger the surge.

After Wilson’s baseline basket, Olson buried a right-corner 3-pointer — her second of the game — before Allen knocked down a trey from the left wing.

But that’s as close as Fairmont would get as Kennedy Schafer made two free throws before Johanna Miller delivered four of her game-best 21 points to give Brookings breathing room at 41-34.

Johanna Miller grabbed eight rebounds and blocked three shots to complement her game-high scoring effort for the Bobcats, while Shelsta finished with eight points, 11 boards and three blocked shots.

Bryn Miller, Allen, Olson and Becker each netted eight points to top the Cardinals’ balanced offense, while Rayah Quiring pulled down seven rebounds, and Miller and Emma Gudahl garnered six caroms apiece to pace the home team’s stunning 34-27 edge on the glass.

Fairmont (9-8) plays host to Redwood Valley tonight at Cardinal Gym, while Brookings (1-11) travels to Aberdeen (S.D.) Central on Tuesday night.

Brookings 19-28–47

Fairmont 14-25–39

FAIRMONT (39)

Allen 3-7 0-0 8, B. Miller 3-7 2-3 8, Becker 3-8 2-5 8, Olson 3-8 0-0 8, Totzke 1-7 1-2 3, Gudahl 1-6 0-1 2, Quiring 1-4 0-0 2, Mosloski 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-48 5-11 39.

BROOKINGS (47)

J. Miller 10-17 1-4 21, Schafer 1-1 2-2 5, Rystrom 1-3 0-1 2, Weisbeck 0-4 1-2 1, Clark 1-6 3-9 5, Shelsta 4-9 0-0 8, Wilson 2-4 1-1 5. Totals 19-44 8-19 47.

3-pointers: Fairmont 4-15 (Allen 2-4, Olson 2-6, Totzke 0-4, Quiring 0-1); Brookings 1-7 (Schafer 1-1, Clark 0-3, Wilson 0-2, Weisbeck 0-1). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Fairmont 34 (Becker 11, Quiring 7); Brookings 27 (Shelsta 11, J. Miller 8). Assists: Fairmont 10 (Becker 3); Brookings 9 (Clark 3). Steals: Fairmont 10 (Gudahl 3); Brookings 9 (Clark 4). Blocked shots: Brookings 8 (J. Miller and Shelsta 3 each).

Fairmont downed Brookings, 29-19, during B-squad action Saturday.

Maggy Totzke netted seven points to top the Cardinals, while Emily Frank supplied five points.

Brookings defeated Fairmont, 32-22, during C-squad play Saturday.

Abby Cihoski tallied 11 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Cardinals (6-2), Jazlyn Geerdes contributed six points and four boards, while Mackenzie Carlson netted five points.